DING!
[Guildmaster Baldin | Lvl 156 | Homunculus | HP: 374429/374429
Defense: 4800
Weaknesses/Detrimental Status Ailments: Unknown
Resistances: Unknown
Immunities: Unknown
Absorbed Elements: Unknown]
Daisuke was no longer pinned beneath the crushing force of telekinesis, yet he couldn't hide his unease at the sight of the ominous creature—its sheer, outrageous stats sending a jolt of alarm through him.
…This is really bad, he thought, anxiety prickling at his spine as his eyes flicked between the newly spawned fiend and the hostages in immediate danger.
Sure, the average Field Boss has more HP, but 4800 in Defense? That's on an entirely different level. Damn it, Baldin—why couldn't you have just listened? The Mhaledictus are pure scum, obsessed only with their own twisted agendas.
As if insulted by its prey's accusing stare, the fiend let out a deep, menacing growl and reached over its shoulder for the broadsword strapped to its back. The moment its fingers curled around the hilt, the weapon flowed into an explosive downward slash.
Time slowed to a crawl as the resulting shockwave tore forward. Daisuke crossed his daggers just in time, triggering Impeccable Parry, but the defense barely held.
The barrier fractured and shattered, followed immediately by his blades splintering apart like glass. He arched his back and snapped his head down in time to lose but a few strands of hair. But defending for a split second and losing the shield was enough to significantly shave away at both his health and mana.
The shockwave didn't merely rip through the room—it erased an entire side of the aging structure. Stone, timber, and centuries of craftsmanship were pulverized in an instant, disintegrating as if it had never existed.
The force carried on unchecked, tearing through the dense forest beyond and flattening several dozen trees in its path, leaving behind a raw scar carved straight through the woodland.
The sight sent a jolt of disbelief through Daisuke, but there was no time to linger on it. With a snarl, he deliberately exerted his Intimidation skill in a raw, provoking burst of killing intent, then bolted from the ruins. The intent was clear—draw the fiend away from the hostages.
The monster took the bait.
With a thunderous roar, it lunged after him, each step shaking the ground as the chase tore away from the shattered building. Almost instinctively, Daisuke willed two vials of potion into his hand.
[Excellent HP Recovery Potion]
[A potion brewed by combining Celestia flowers, Vitaberries, Bloomwhisper Herbs, Tranquiloak Sap, and Mendroot. Its restorative potency varies depending on the concentration grade.
Item Effect: Replenishes 12,500 health
Cooldown: 40 Seconds]
[Excellent MP Recovery Potion]
[A potion brewed by combining Lunarfrost Lily, Etherberries, Rejuvishroom, Angel Bee's honey, and Mendroot. Its restorative potency varies depending on the concentration grade.
Item Effect: Replenishes 12,500 mana
Cooldown: 40 Seconds]
DING!
[The effects of Congenital Denizen have eased the effects of the current penalty seizing the battlefield. Consumables can again be utilized, but their effectiveness has been diminished by 50% and cooldown time increased twentyfold]
Daisuke's expression hardened. First the barrier-infused rings and now magic sealing off the use of consumables? The Mhaledictus sure have some incredibly annoying habits. He heaved a nervous grin. Who am I kidding? It's obvious being conservative is no longer gonna cut it.
Sixth Sense tolled like a bell in his mind as another sword swing aimed at cleaving him in twain came forth. Daisuke ducked at the last second, the steel humming as it narrowly passed over his head. His foot shifted, plowing into the earth as he pivoted his body, his greatsword materializing in his hand mid-swing.
"[Cosmic Cutter]!"
BOOOOM!!
[Critical!]
[86,895 damage dealt.]
The huge sword collided with the creature's torso and even gifted a fierce explosion. But the blade simply refused to cut through the black armor—instead, the force of impact sent the fiend hurling through several trees.
Daisuke clicked his tongue. Last I checked, my Critical Hit Rate's over a hundred percent. Technically, that means anywhere I land a hit should at least proc the base damage modifier. He exhaled sharply. But I guess none of that matters when the enemy's defense is just stupidly high.
Before it even touched the ground, the homunculus plunged its sword into the trunk of a nearby tree. Using the embedded blade as a pivot, it wrenched its body through a full one-hundred-and-eighty-degree arc and hurled itself back toward its prey.
The entire sequence unfolded in less than a second.
Daisuke's body reacted before his mind could catch up. Muscles bulged as he hauled his sword up with both hands, bracing it like a shield just as the monstrosity descended—a spawn of hell crashing down from above.
The broadsword struck like a falling hammer.
Sparks detonated on impact. A violent shockwave tore outward, uprooting trees and shredding the ground in all directions. Stone and soil collapsed beneath Daisuke's feet as a massive crater split open, his teeth grinding together while he fought to endure the crushing force.
…Power. …Speed. …Flexibility… Baldin may have been reduced to a mindless mob, but his battle prowess hasn't dulled in the slightest. Guess that's what happens when you use a Guildmaster as the base ingredient for a transformation like this.
Daisuke snarled as steel scraped against keratin, his joints burning, screaming for a break. So much for stacking debuffs, he thought grimly. Not that it mattered—the daggers just got shattered again, and even intact, they likely wouldn't have been able to breach this bastard's monstrous defense.
Unfortunately, blunt force is my only way to deal damage, so I guess that leaves me with no choice but to rely on the greatsword.
But when he deflected the creature's sword and started whipping it with continuous attacks, he quickly realized that was pure idealism.
Despite using one of his three trump card skills, in addition to his newly acquired weapon, his attacks were synonymous to a mosquito trying to bite through leather.
Complete and utter futility.
In a flash, the tables were turned again and Daisuke found himself beneath the unrelenting beating of the fiend's broadsword. His own weapon being utilized as a shield was what stood between him and being hopelessly carved into ribbons—or pounded into paste.
Each clash was like thunder. Each shockwave mowed down plants and shattered the earth. The fiend bellowed, announcing its supremacy, refusing to yield until its prey ceased to exist.
Daisuke grunted as he was forced to one knee, his hands sore from the continuous attacks.
CHENGG!
Golden chains coiled around both the sword and fiend, but no sooner had they been spun than they were utterly destroyed.
"Dammit!"
The pummeling ensued, but while the greatsword endured, Daisuke couldn't say the same for his stamina. With each hit, the repercussions shot down his arms and into his body, gradually sapping away at his strength and driving him into the ground.
All of a sudden, when all seemed lost, he heard a voice—a memory floating to the surface of his mind:
— Lyndoria: "Princess Lumielle… she's the most extraordinary person I've ever known. She's unfailingly kind and compassionate—maternal in a way that makes you feel seen and safe. "Please… I'm begging you, Haxks. Find her and bring her back home. I don't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to her."
Daisuke gritted his teeth.
Even as the fiend rained blow after blow upon him, his eyes drifted—hesitant but resolute—toward the ruins in the distance. He had defeated Cassius and scattered his followers, yes, but the kingdom itself still teetered on the edge of ruin. Reneal and Lyndoria needed Lumielle by their side to begin the long task of healing the nation.
If he bent the other knee, if he yielded here, Lumielle would almost certainly be slain. And in the worst case, once both women were torn apart, the homunculus would march into the city, slaughtering hundreds before the royal knights and court mages could finally stop it.
For Fay, April, Mia, Brek—and everyone who had placed their faith in him—he could not afford to die here. For the promise he had made to Cedric Oswald Percival, to share alchemy with those in need. For the mysterious goddess who kept dabbling in his affairs, to protect life—especially that of the Beastfolk—he would not yield. He could not submit to the machinations of evil.
Suddenly, as if answering his solemn prayer—
DING!
[Bonus reward calculations complete.]
[Weapons Master class is now active.]
[Weapons Master skill level increased from Lv. 1 to Lv. 3.]
[Additional passive and active skills have been unlocked.]
[«Novice Archery Mastery» and «Novice Polearm Mastery» have been deemed redundant and removed from the Skills list.]
[5% of the proficiency from both «Novice Archery Mastery» and «Novice Polearm Mastery» has been transferred to the Weapons Master class.]
[The «Lightning Edge» passive from the Dual Blader class no longer requires a Lightning Bead in the inventory to activate.]
[Weapons Master]
[Rank: Legendary (Growth-type Class)
Classification: Class Passive Skill
Lvl: 3
Proficiency: 10%
A legendary class honed over centuries by Kaizyreus—one of the eight descendants of the ancient dragon Dragnir. This refined discipline embodies mastery through relentless practice and adaptation, granting unparalleled proficiency with all bladed weapons and the insight to wield them impeccably.
Passive Skill:
▪︎ Increases Melee Attack Power by 20% and Magical Attack Power by 10%
▪︎ 10% chance to activate the passive skill «Lightning Edge», which doubles the cutting edge of all bladed-type weapons
▪︎ While «Lightning Edge» is active, attacks have a 5% chance to inflict «Paralysis». This effect stacks with identical effects from other equipment
▪︎ Attacks have a 25% chance to inflict «Bleed». This effect stacks with identical effects from other equipment
▪︎ When dual wielding, there is a 20% chance to activate «Double Impact», causing the damage from one weapon to be mirrored by the other, instantly dealing double damage. If both weapons strike simultaneously, there is a 15% chance to deal 4× damage instead
▪︎ Upon using a weapon skill, there is a 5% chance to trigger «Rewind», instantly recasting the skill without consuming additional resources
▪︎ 15% chance to activate «Tap-Up», which may double the potency of weapon-inflicted debuffs
Attack Skill:
▪︎ Lacerate
▪︎ Critical Fusion
▪︎ Ricochet
▪︎ Lunar Fang
▪︎ Solar Fang
▪︎ Steel Crucifix
Skill Requirement: Any Bladed Weapon Equipped]
A grin tugged at Daisuke's lips, his expression balancing somewhere between relief and arrogance.
He let the power and complexity of his newly awakened class surge through his body, every movement suddenly sharper, cleaner—right.
With finesse that could only be employed by a true swords master, he skillfully slanted the greatsword, guiding the fiend's blade aside. Metal screamed as it slid along the flat of his weapon before biting deep into the earth.
A flock of birds took to the skies in a panic.
Daisuke's body dipped low, his muscles growing taut as he gathered his power—and his foe flinched in response. For the first time since the battle began, the homunculus seemed to take the fight seriously.
Daisuke tightened his grip and launched into a sword swing. My Status Window didn't open until I proved to the System that I was truly willing to risk my life to become a player.
Even then, I deliberately chose to fight in my own way—a roundabout, survival-first approach—just to keep breathing. That choice is probably why most of my skills ended up being utility-focused.
In SO, skills are assigned based on personality, combat style, and a range of other factors. Still, most players are given a broad lineup of offensive abilities they can rotate through in battle, all designed to stack damage modifiers and push higher DPS.
Now I finally have a class that supports that kind of combat. With this new class, does this mean I've actually changed my mindset and approach toward fighting?
The fiend stabbed his sword deeper into the ground and reinforced it with his forearm to thwart his foe from building any kind of momentum.
But Daisuke was already a step ahead.
Mid-swing, he dematerialized his greatsword and glided behind the fiend as if floating on air. Without breaking his rhythm, he rematerialized the weapon and seamlessly resumed his assault, green lightning crackling along the blade as it cut through the space between them.
Golden pupils flared. My DPS was already OP before… let's see how much more powerful my attacks will become with a proper attack modifier added.
"[Lacerate]!